The pandemic and current recession are further dividing the legal industry, as some large firms have struggled to meet their budget this year while others are doing better than last year.

The New York market, in particular, is a microcosm of the broader industry. While layoffs have been reported at some New York firms, other elite firms are even ahead of last year, including Milbank; Weil, Gotshal & Manges; and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.